Spring shield for starter drives for internal combustion engines

Abstract

A small metal shield is disclosed which lengthens the life of the rectangular springs in starter drives for internal combustion engines. The shield has a rectangular face which slightly overlaps the edges of the spring and a projection which seats the shield in the spring between the end of the spring and the cylindrical roller. The projection may be perpendicular to the face or at a slight angle from the perpendicular.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In a starter drive for internal combustion engines said starter drive having an overrunning clutch comprising a driving member concentric with and around a driven, member said driven member having a cylindrical outer surface, a plurality of cylindrical rollers housed within recesses formed in said driving member, each roller being biassed by a rectangular coil spring, the improvement comprising a shield of durable material positioned between the end of said spring and a surface of said roller wherein said shield comprises: (a) a rectangular face having dimensions greater than or equal to the rectangular cross-sectional shape of said spring, and comprising a durable material no harder than said roller; and   (b) a projection connected to said face and received in a central opening of one end of said spring and having a length less than the length of said spring when said spring is in its state of maximum operating compression.   
     
     
       2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said shield is made of copper. 
     
     
       3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said projection connects to said face at right angles. 
     
     
       4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said projection connects to said face at an angle slightly beyond the perpendicular.